Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for 30 days and fined €255 by the Portuguese Football Federation after leaving the national team camp during an international break.
The federation's disciplinary council announced the punishment Monday, October 19, following an investigation into the incident involving the 41-year-old captain.
The council upheld the charge against Ronaldo, finding that he deliberately violated Article 160(1) of its disciplinary regulations.
The suspension follows Ronaldo's decision to leave Portugal's camp in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Sept. 30, ahead of a UEFA Nations League match.
The forward was reportedly unhappy after being left on the bench against Norway on Sept. 27.
He later accused coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word about his role in the team.
Jesus denied making any agreement with Ronaldo but left the door open for the forward's return.
Ronaldo subsequently apologised for his actions and said he was willing to accept the consequences.
In a statement published on social media, he said, "I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team."
The federation's disciplinary committee considered Ronaldo's apology when deciding his punishment.
The regulations allow suspensions ranging from one to six months for abandoning the national team.
However, the ruling did not initially clarify which matches or activities the ban would cover or whether time already served under a provisional suspension would count toward the 30 days.
Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proença has expressed the organisation's desire to welcome Ronaldo back once the matter is resolved.
Portugal won its Nations League matches during Ronaldo's absence and qualified for the quarterfinals with two games to spare.
The suspension is expected to be completed before Portugal's November fixtures against Denmark and Wales, potentially allowing Ronaldo to return if selected.
Comments
Add a comment